John Thomas Schutzberg, 96, of Waterville, Ohio passed away November 28, 2022. He was born December 11, 1925 in Haskins, Ohio to the late Herbert and Mary (Enright) Schutzberg. He married Mary Lou Mozena on August 12, 1950 and she preceded him in death in 1988.
John served in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of The Tontogany American Legion Post 441 for 79 years, Odd Fellows of Tontogany, Wood County Farm Bureau, Wood County Historical Society and The Wood County Genealogical Society. John was the oldest member of Haskins Community Church.
John was a farmer and farmed the 90 acre homestead as well as sharecropped other farmland. He was very proud that his family homestead was recognized as an Ohio Century Farm. The farm has been in the Schutzberg family for 146 years.
Throughout his life, John travel extensively around the United States as well as internationally. He enjoyed traveling by train the most and loved talking about his travels. He loved fishing and always looked forward to his deer hunting trips to Pennsylvania with his legion buddies. He loved square dancing and spending time after the rain on the farm searching for arrowheads, Indian stones and artifacts- collecting over 65lbs over the course of his lifetime.
For many years, John coordinated the Memorial Day program at Tontogany Cemetery. He would line up the speaker, collect flowers from his own garden to make bouquets and place flags on all of the servicemen’s graves. He volunteered for many years at St. Luke’s Hospital.
John never knew a stranger. He enjoyed camping locally as well as out west in the summer and Florida between Christmas and New Years. When John and Mary Lou started square dancing, they met 3 other couples with children who became close friends and would venture with them on their camping excursions.
He is survived by his children Timothy (Jani) Schutzberg of Bradenton, Florida, Diane (Ken) Kuhlman of Waterville, Ohio, Susie Schutzberg of Warren, Rhode Island, Beth Wallace of Bellevue, Ohio and Marshall Schutzberg of Bowling Green, Ohio. He is also survived by his grandchildren Stephanie Holt, Mark Kuhlman, Andrew Kuhlman, Ben Kuhlman, Kristina Zeigler, Katie Myers and Karley Schutzberg as well as great-grandchildren Lani Rose and Leighton Marylou and one great-grandchild on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary Lou, brother Jimmy Schutzberg and sister Dorothy Thorton.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Union Hill Cemetery in Bowling Green. Pastor Jennifer Jackson will officiate. Full Military Honors will be rendered by the Wood County Honor Detail. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Peinert-Dunn Funeral Home in Tontogany, Ohio.
John’s family would like to give a special thank you to the caring nurses and support staff at Story Point in Waterville for their loving care. They nicknamed John “Cowboy” because of the western shirts, jeans, big western belt buckle and size 12 cowboy boots he always wore. They would also like to thank the nurses, aides, social workers and pastor from Elara Caring Hospice for their exceptional care and support.
Memorial contributions may be given in his memory to Haskins Community Church 209 W. Main St. Haskins, Ohio 43525, The American Legion Lybarger-Grimm Post 441 18086 Tontogany Rd. Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 or Elara Caring Hospice 3425 Executive Parkway Suite 206 Toledo, Ohio 43606.
To share an online condolence or fond memory with the family please visit www.dunnfuneralhome.com.
